Rotary printing machine



1935? F. G. LOUGEE ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Dec. 31, 1935. LOUGEE 2,026,480

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORPatented Dec. 31, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE FrederickGrafton Lou signor to R. Hoe & Irving Trust Company,

gee, London, England, as Co.

Inc., New York, N. Y. permanent trustee Application March 16, 1931,Serial No. 522,914 I ,In Great Britain 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary printing machines.

Under the high speed of operation of modern printing presses, which maydeliver, say 60,000 copies per hour, it has been found that theatmosphere of the press room becomes laden with atomized or finelydivided ink mist or vapour, which renders working conditions unpleasantand results in the smutting of the products. I believe that theformation of this mist or vapour is due to the high speed of rotation ofthe usual ink distribution drums, and of the distributing and formerollers, which, in their rotation, fling oif particles of ink. Anyfurther tendency to increase the speed of operation will, of course,intensify the difiiculties of Working.

The object, of the present invention is to provide means which willprevent or minimize the diffusion of the ink mist or vapour.

According to the present invention there are provided means which willconfine or substantially confine the ink mist or vapour within theproximity of the inking mechanism or mechanisms of the printingmachines.

The invention can be carried into eiTect in various ways. For example, asuction or pressure air apparatus may be provided for directing the inkparticles flung ofi the drum and rollers to a receptacle from which theaccumulated ink is withdrawn and returned to the usual ink reservoir,preferably through a filter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 isan end view and Figure 2 a detail view at right angles to'Figure 1.

I is a receptacle formed of a box or guard located adjacent andco-extensive with the ink distribution drum 2 and rollers 3, that faceor double wall of the box adjacent the drum and rollers being perforatedat 4 as shown in Figure 2. The box I is hinged at 5 to the frame of themachine. The interior of the box is placed in communication through aconduit 6 with an air suction generating plant, not shown. 'The inkparticles flung ofi the drum 2 and rollers 3 are then sucked through theperforations 4 into the box I, whence the ink passes downwardly throughthe conduit 5 wherein a partialvacuum is maintained by any suitablemeans, to a separator (not shown) in communication with the inkreservo1r.

I is a box which is similar to the box I and is located on that side ofthe distribution drum 2 remote from the rollers 3. The box 1 is formedin two parts which are hinged together at 8 and 7 constitutes part ofthe usual guard which is March 21, 1930 hingedly mounted to provideaccess to the distribution drum.

The down-draft principle herein employed for collecting the inkparticles not only prevents a considerable loss of ink throughevaporation and contact with surfaces necessarily employed with systemsemploying overhead hoods, but in addition, effects its object with theutmost simplicity of means which, as illustrated, may be secured to orform an integral part of the walls of the 10 enclosing receptacle I. Theink particles by the present down-draft method also will travel orreturn by the shortest path possible to the ink reservoir or itsseparator (not shown).

What I claim is:-

1. In a rotary printing machine including an ink reservoir and inkdistributing mechanism, means for confining ink mist within theproximity of the ink distributing mechanism; said means including areceptacle hingedly connected to the printing machine and enclosing theink distributing mechanism, there being perforations formed in the saidreceptacle for drawing off said ink mist and collecting same in othermeans connected to the receptacle.

2. In combination, a rotary printing machine having ink distributingrollers, a double walled guard adjacent said rollers, and a drainconduit connected to the guard in which a partial vacuum is maintained;said guard being perforated on the side adjacent the ink rollers.

3. In a rotary printing machine including an ink distributing apparatushaving rotary components, a receptacle adjacent the ink distributingapparatus, an ink conveying conduit communicating the receptacle with apartial vacuum the receptacle being substantially coextensive with theink distributing apparatus and provided with a substantially coextensiveperforated wall positioned towards the ink distributing apparatus topermit particles of ink from the ink distributing apparatus to be drawndirectly from the components of the ink distributing apparatus throughthe adjacent perforations of the wall.

4. In a rotary printing machine including an ink distributing apparatushaving rotary components, an ink receptacle adjacent the inkdistributing apparatus, the receptacle being substantially coextensivewith the ink distributing apparatus and provided with a substantiallycoextensible perforated wall positioned towards the ink distributingapparatus, and a conduit in which a partial vacuumis maintainedcommunicating with the receptacle for drawing ink mist created by the 55ink distributing apparatus directly from the components of the inkdistributing apparatus through the adjacent perforations of the wallinto the receptacle and conduit.

5. In a rotary printing machine including an ink distributing apparatus,a double walled guard adjacent the ink distributing apparatus andsubstantially coextensive therewith, substantially the entire wall ofthe guard adjacent the ink distributing apparatus being perforated, andan ink conveying conduit connected with the guard to convey inktherefrom. A

6. In a rotary printing machine including an ink distributing apparatus,a double walled guard adjacent the ink distributing apparatus andsubstantially coextensive therewith, substantially the entire wall ofthe guard adjacent the ink dis= tributing apparatus being perforated,and a conduit in which a partial vacuum is maintained connected with theguard for drawing ink mist created by the ink distributing apparatusinto the receptacle and conduit.

'7. In a rotary printing machine including an ink distributingapparatus, a double walled guard hingedly secured adjacent the inkdistributing apparatus and substantially coextensive therewith,substantially the entire wall of the guard adjacentthe ink distributingapparatus being perforated, and a conduit in which a. partial vacuum ismaintained connected with the guard for drawing ink created by the inkdistributing apparatus into the guard and conduit.

FREDERICK GRAFTON LOUGEE.

